THE petition to speed up the new inquest into Kevin Williams's death in the Hillsborough disaster because of his mum Anne's ill health has passed 100,000 signatures today.

UPDATE: AN application to quash the discredited Hillsborough
inquest verdict of "accidental death" will be made before Christmas, the Attorney General announced today.

But Dominic Grieve disappointed MPs by insisting he could not speed up a new inquest into the death of Kevin Williams, whose mother, Anne, has terminal cancer.

During questions in the Commons, Mr Grieve revealed he had made "good progress" in drawing up the long-awaited application to the High Court - a key step in the campaign for justice for the Hillsborough victims.

And he told MPs: "I expect to make that application in December. I will do all I can to take this process forward as quickly as possible."

The announcement came on the day that an e-petition to accelerate a fresh inquest into the death of 15-year-old Kevin passed the 100,000-signature mark - making it eligible for a Commons debate.

It seeks to ensure Mrs Williams - who has campaigned relentlessly against the original inquest verdict into the 1989 tragedy - will see it quashed before she dies.

Mr Grieve acknowledged the "significant public support", but added: "The evidence that supports a new inquest into Kevin Williams' death is basically the same as that in relation to the deaths of all the other victims of Hillsborough.

"My duty is to act in the public interest of all the victims of Hillsborough. I consider that wider public interest requires a single application to be made in relation to these inquests."

The Attorney General said the application was not yet ready, partly because he had consulted the families of all the 96 victims - who had been given one calendar month to respond.

In addition, there was a need to review all the medical evidence, in order to "show the court that an informed decision can be reached on the cause and time of death".

Mr Grieve added: "For that I have retained the services of expert forensic pathologist."

The Attorney General also stressed the timetable for the High Court to act was out of his hands, saying: "I obviously can't predict the timetable for the fresh inquests to take place."

And he repeated his warning that any criminal proceedings against individual police officers or organisations involved in the alleged cover-up could yet delay the inquest.

But Mr Grieve insisted there was no question of a lack of "resources" in his department, adding: "There are no shortcuts that can be taken in order to bring this to the Court."

Earlier today, Hillsborough campaigners adding their support to Anne on the back of the online campaign reaching its target.

Sheila Coleman from the Hillsborough Justice Campaign said : "The support has given Anne such a boost. She is uplifted by it.

"She knows it may make no difference, but that said, the petition being debated cannot do any harm.

"It is incredible that we have had three e-petition reach 100,000 signatures.

"It shows the overwhelming support for what the city is fighting for."

Margaret Aspinall from the Hillsborough Family Support Group said: "It's sad but I don't think it will be brought forward. Anne realises that she's not going to get it and that is so sad.

"It's sad that some families have passed away without even getting the truth and they waited long enough

"But it is good that people are still supporting Anne and to get 100,000 signatures in a short space of time is terrific."

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ORIGINAL STORY

THE petition to speed up the new inquest into Kevin Williams's death in the Hillsborough disaster because of his mum Anne's ill health has passed 100,000 signatures today.

The landmark was passed at just after 11am this morning, which means the request will now be considered for debate in the House of Commons.

It was set up in response to the Hillsborough Independent Panel's report and Anne being diagnosed with a terminal inquest, to try and ensure she could see the inquest for which she has fought since losing 15-year-old son Kevin in the disaster in 1989.

See our video below with Anne Williams after the Hillsborough Independent Panel's report

On October 16, Attorney General Dominic Grieve announced he intended to apply to the High Court to overturn the discredited “accidental death” verdicts and order fresh inquests into the deaths of all 96 Liverpool fans who died at FA Cup semi-final.

He has also said he recognises the "additional urgency this sad news brings to the process and will make his application as soon as he possibly can”.

However, in a statement to the House of Commons last month, the Attourney General hinted the inquests of all 96 victims will be held at the same time as “all the deaths arose from a single chain of event”.

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Alastair Machray

Alastair Machray was appointed editor of The Liverpool Echo in 2005 and is also editor-in-chief of Trinity Mirror Merseyside, Cheshire and North Wales. He is a former editor of The Daily Post (Wales and England) and editor-in-chief of the company's Welsh operations. Married dad-of-two and keen golfer Alastair is one of the longest-serving newspaper editors in the country. His titles have won numerous awards and spearheaded numerous successful campaigns.